High resolution electron energy loss and X-ray near edge absorption spectroscopic studies of diamond film functionalised with allyl alcohol

The adsorption of allyl alcohol on chemical vapour deposited (CVD) diamond thin film has been studied with high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS) and X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES). Our results suggest allyl alcohol readily adsorbs on pre-annealed CVD diamond. There are differences in the reactivity of allyl alcohol on sputtered diamond surfaces compared to pristine clean surfaces. The strong increase in CC π⁎ signal following the adsorption of allyl alcohol on freshly sputtered diamond suggests the possibility of spontaneous dissociation into allylic η3–C3H5 and OH on defects. The increase in CC π⁎ signal is weaker on pristine diamond, due possibly to the [2 + 2] type cycloaddition reactions of allyl alcohol which break the π bonds. XANES study shows that adsorption of allyl alcohol promotes the total electron yield from the CVD diamond surface.